USA
Cities and towns across the nation marked Memorial Day with parades and observances colored by the terrorist attacks of last Sept. 11. In Washington mementos decorated the Vietnam Memorial (below), where thousands of visitors were expected. Another large turnout was expected at events honoring the nation's war dead at nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
Before leaving France for Italy, President Bush paid tribute to American and allied troops who died in the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II and in more recent fighting in Afghanistan. "These sacrifices have spared many others from tyranny and sorrow," he said in a speech and wreath-laying ceremony with French President Jacques Chirac at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, a scene of heavy US losses in the June 6, 1944, invasion. Bush wraps up his European trip with today's NATO-Russia summit in Rome and an audience with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
Divers joined recovery efforts at the scene of a bridge collapse near Webbers Falls, Okla., that killed at least four people. Authorities believe as many as 12 vehicles fell into the Arkansas River after a barge struck a support on the I-40 bridge, a main east-west route, toppling a 500-foot section into the water Sunday. The barge was being pushed by a tow boat at the time of the collision.
The FBI needs "a lot of readjustment" to fight domestic terrorism, US Rep. Porter Goss (R) of Florida said on "Fox News Sunday." The House and Senate intelligence committees are to hold a joint hearing June 4 on the handling of terrorism warnings in advance of the attacks, and Goss, chairman of the House panel, said at this point, he doesn't consider the bureau capable of the intelligence work required. His comments came as the FBI said its director, Robert Mueller, would disclose plans for a major overhaul soon. (Related story, page 1.)
Forestry officials said a 12,500-acre wildfire in Arizona's Coronado National Forest was threatening 700 houses as it continued to grow amid ultradry conditions. The fire prompted the evacuation of 100 residents from Mount Lemmon Sunday. In New Mexico, firefighters said another blaze that burned 11,000 acres of the Santa Fe National Forest was 15 percent contained. (Story, page 3.)
NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft found large icy areas on the red planet, possibly enough water to have sustained life in the past, researchers analyzing data from the spacecraft said. Details of the discovery appear in Thursday's edition of the magazine "Science."
